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A Revolution in Our Sense of Self
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A Revolution in Our Sense of Self

In a radical reassessment of how the mind works, a leading behavioural scientist argues the idea of a deep inner life is an illusion. This is cause for celebration, he says, not despair.

The Guardian, 2018

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Innovative
  • Bold

Recommendation

Why do people behave the way they do? You can ask them but they will likely not be able to tell you. According to Nick Chater, a behavioral psychologist at Warwick Business School, interpreting people’s dreams or putting them through hours of psychotherapy won’t give you any clues about people’s deep-seated motivations either. Why? It's because the human brain has no depth.  In this opinion piece for The Guardian Chater, author of The Mind is Flat, gives an overview of his thesis on human motivation. Even if you end up disagreeing with Chater’s stance, getAbstract believes that his argument will challenge your thinking on one of psychology’s most enduring mysteries.

Take-Aways

  • Psychologists and neuroscientists have long tried to find hidden values, beliefs, desires and emotions below people’s superficial awareness that may guide human behavior.
  • However, evidence suggests that thoughts don't emerge from unconscious depths but that people create and re-create their thoughts, beliefs and desires as they go along.
  • The human mind improvises constantly and then retroactively rationalizes the decisions and beliefs that emerge from this spontaneous mental process.

About the Author

Nick Chater is professor of behavioral science at Warwick Business School and the author of The Mind Is Flat.


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